UC Berkeley CTO

A social sciences and humanities reading list on AI in education 🧵

ChatGPT for students: learners find creative new uses for chatbots The utility of generative AI tools is expanding far beyond simple summarisation and grammar support towards more sophisticated, pedagogical applications.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Microsoft quantum computing physicists skeptical d3ec07f0 The company says it created a ‘new state of matter,’ representing a major advance for quantum com…

Microsoft quantum computing physicists skeptical d3ec07f0
https://www.wsj.com/science/physics/microsoft-quantum-computing-physicists-skeptical-d3ec07f0?st=JP4YBn

Anthropic’s new ‘hybrid reasoning’ AI model is its smartest yet It’s also starting to publicly test an “agentic” coding tool called Claude Code.…

Anthropic’s new ‘hybrid reasoning’ AI model is its smartest yet
https://www.theverge.com/news/618440/anthropic-claude-3-7-sonnet-ai-model-hybrid-reasoning

One impact of AI coding tools is how they will make “technologies preferred by LLMs” dominant even more.

“Build me a mobile app” is much easier to have an LLM do it using React Native or Flutter than native iOS or native Android. So most AI-scaffolded apps will be this!

Global electricity demand expected to grow 4% annually through 2027 | TechCrunch Meeting that demand will require adding more generating capacity than all of Japan — every year.…

Global electricity demand expected to grow 4% annually through 2027 | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/14/global-electricity-demand-expected-to-grow-4-annually-through-2027/?utm_source=dlvr.it%26utm_medium=mastodon%26guccounter=1

I filled in this form just now and was emailed an API key a few seconds later, strongly recommend doing the same

Startups selected for SkyDeck’s Cohort program will receive a $200,000 investment (for 7.5% equity), access to a network of 500+ advisors/mentors, and the opportunity to pitch to a network of investors on Demo Day. @berkeleyskydeck.bsky.social Apply by 2/18 skydeck.berkeley.edu/apply/

Now that we are 2+ years into the general public having access to ChatGPT-style systems, are there any credible studies out there exploring how susceptible to LLM-generated mistruths users of these things are?

Do people tend to develop good instincts on whether they should trust their output?

20 UC Berkeley alumni, students and faculty shine on Forbes 30 Under 30 list - Berkeley News Berkeley-affiliated honorees were prominent across the 2025 list's 20 categories.

ICYMI: In fields ranging from AI to health care to Hollywood and beyond, 20 UC Berkeley students, faculty and alumni have been recognized for their achievements on this year’s edition of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. 🌟🐻 news.berkeley.edu/2025/02/07/2...

Perplexity tried to sponsor an F1 team — but got blocked by a bigger tech company Oracle blocked Perplexity’s bid to sponsor an F1 team.

Scoop: Perplexity has been in negotiations to sign a sponsorship deal with Red Bull Racing, worth $5 million a year. But after both parties had agreed to the terms, the deal was blocked by Oracle, the team’s biggest sponsor. www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...

YouTube video by UC Berkeley Professor explains satellite mapping of Earth’s biology |101 in 101

This UC Berkeley scientist uses satellites to map the Earth’s plant life — and help combat #ClimateChange.🌎 youtu.be/NJLzVEAdExc?...

New UC Federal updates website: “With numerous, quickly evolving federal policy shifts underway, the University of California is working diligently to monitor these developments and seek clarity on a range of issues.“

www.universityofcalifornia.edu/federal-upda...

Cal State unveils artificial intelligence tools for students The dawn of AI has brought visions of higher education innovation – and worries that the technolo…

Cal State unveils artificial intelligence tools for students
https://edsource.org/2025/cal-state-unveils-artificial-intelligence-tools-for-students/726205

Quick! ChatGPT is down send a litmus test to all your coworkers to see if they actually know anything.

Is there a “Duty to Serve” Hyperscale Loads? If we don’t rethink the paradigm for new large electricity customers, they could end up burdening…

Is there a “Duty to Serve” Hyperscale Loads?
https://energyathaas.wordpress.com/2024/12/02/is-there-a-duty-to-serve-hyperscale-loads/

It's that time again-- How Do You 💗 Your Data? -- "UC Love Data Week is a week-long offering of presentations and workshops focused on data access, management, security, sharing, and preservation.": uc-love-data-week.github.io

A government busy carving out tax breaks so non-local multinationals stay: but they leave, anyway (Shell, Unilever).

Meanwhile ignoring their own companies that could create a *lot* more local jobs, with some help (ASML).

Story of most governments. Including the Dutch:

Six short video demos of LLM and Datasette projects Last Friday Alex Garcia and I hosted a new kind of Datasette Public Office Hours session, invitin…

Six short video demos of LLM and Datasette projects
https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jan/22/office-hours-demos/

"The Apereo Foundation invites open source enthusiasts, IT professionals, nonprofit staff members, scientific researchers, and open education advocates to our February micro-conference aimed at navigating the complexities of grant funding." www.apereo.org/news/2025/fe...

Since 2010, the training computation of notable AI systems has doubled every six months Artificial intelligence has advanced rapidly over the past 15 years, fueled by the success of dee…

Since 2010, the training computation of notable AI systems has doubled every six months
https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/since-2010-the-training-computation-of-notable-ai-systems-has-doubled-every-six-months

Uncanceled Units xkcd.com/3038

EDUCAUSE Data Literacy Institute – February 2025 This institute provides foundational knowledge needed to facilitate effective data-informed decision-making.

Get a comprehensive view into the information lifecycle and hands-on practice with each step from data discovery and evaluation to leading and influencing change through data storytelling. Register for the EDUCAUSE Data Literacy Institute starting February 3!

Brilliance of Berkeley Course details: https://2ly.link/2217X

Image of Professor Dacher Keltner

Image of Professor Randy Schekman

Excited to see the set of 28 speakers for the 2025 Spring Semester offering of the Brilliance of Berkeley Course. This 1-unit course has in-person lectures on Fridays from 12-2 in Wheeler Auditorium at @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social

Further details can be found here: 2ly.link/2217X

Screenshot: LA Fire Mutual Aid Resources website.

Great work from @johanm.bsky.social, creating a resource connecting people to aid in LA.

www.fireaid.info

AI deals underscore importance of open access (opinion) For those feeling queasy about academic publishers’ AI deals, Günter Waibel and Dave Hansen argue the way forward is not more restrictive licenses—it’s open access.

Thoughtful piece on AI and open access by Günter Waibel from the California Digital Library: www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view... @insidehighered.com

Planet Fitness locations in Los Angeles are “offering anyone impacted by the fires—first responders and residents—free access to shower, recharge, and relax”

No membership is required to take advantage of locker rooms, WiFi, charging stations at any LA County location not impacted by the fires.

OpenAI says it knows how to make superintelligence now But that might be the easy part

For the first Platformer of the year, a look at Sam Altman's claim today that OpenAI knows how to make superintelligence now www.platformer.news/openai-agi-s...